You are here

Defenders and Rep.Dicks Call for Forum to Study Wolf Reintroduction at Olympics

(01/27/1997) - U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) and Defenders of Wildlife, a
nonprofit membership organization, announced today that they have jointly agreed
to sponsor a one-day conference in April to begin exploring the possibility of
reintroducing wolves to Olympic National Park in the state of Washington.

Rep. Dicks made the proposal for a joint conference after
reviewing an op ed by Defenders' President Rodger Schlickeisen in the Seattle
Post-Intelligencer and gathering information on eastern timber wolves from
Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park which is inhabited by wolves.

Defenders says the first step toward reintroduction would be
preparation of a scientific assessment of whether the Olympics provide suitable
wolf habitat, and that the forum will gather "distinguished experts to closely
examine the relevant arguments from a biological and technical feasibility
perspective." Any formal proposal for wolf reintroduction in the area would be
open for public input.

Defenders' Schlickeisen, a Seattle native, said today that,
"We're not saying to bring in the wolves right away, but we are saying bring in
the scientists as soon as possible. Let them determine if the Olympics are
suitable for the howl of the wild wolf to ring out once again. If we have a
chance to help save wolves from extinction by restoring them to this former
habitat, we owe it to ourselves to do so. More important, we owe it to our
children and future generations to preserve the wolf and the wild diversity of
nature that it symbolizes."

Coexistence is the order of the day in Oregon, thanks to months of discussions among Defenders of Wildlife, Oregon wildlife officials, the governor’s office and the ranching community. A livestock compensation and wolf coexistence bill unanimously passed the state House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. John Kitzhaber in August.